Calculating machine



July 16, 1935. c. M. F. FRIDEN CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1930 ATTOR NE Y INVENTOR Lar/ M- l? Eva en m mmm r mHr n m mHBH Patented 'July'16, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 2,003,135 CALCULATING MACHINE Carl M. F. Friden,

Piedmont, Califi, assignor to Mai-chant Calculating Machine Company, acorporation of California Application January 15, 1330, Serial No.420,898 5Claims. (or. 175-337) The present invention relates tocalculating machines, and particularly to an improved mechanism forentering the factors of the computation therein. Such machines havingbeen developed to the point where their performance of the computationis fully automatic, require only that the operator set up the factors ofthe problem to be performed upon the keyboard or other controllinginstrumentality. Since the only purpose of this physical act on the partof the operator is to effect a control over the subsequent'operations ofthe machine, obviously, as little physical work should be involved inthe operation as is possible. Hitherto, however, the

depression of the. keys has been utilized to actually set a portion ofthe mechanism to a controllingposition, and as this setting involved themoving of a more or less complicated linkage system, it required theexpenditure of considerable force, and made the key'action of such keysvery difiicult.

The present invention contemplates relieving the controllinginstrumentalities of all work, and effecting the setting ofthecontrolling elements by a source of power independent of the key motionand only controlled thereby.

I An object of the invention is to provide a setting mechanism in, whichthe controlling instrumentalities are relievedof all the physical .workof the setting and act only to control it, Another object of theinvention is to provide an electrical setting mechanism in which thesetting operation is performed by electrical power,

' talities.

acting under the control of settable instrumen- Anotherobject of theinvention is to provide an electrical setting mechanism which may be setfrom a representation of any digit to a representation' of another digitwithout passing through-zero..

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical settingmechanism'for a calculating machine which may be controlled from a pointremote-therefrom.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a section through the machine showing theactuator. andsetting means therefor.

Figure -2 is a ure 1. v v

The invention is here disclosed as incorporated in a calculating,machine'of the type disclosed in" the patent to -Friden, 1,643,710,issued September'2'7th 1,927, and reference is hereby made to thatpatent for a disclosure of all portions section anda line 2. 2 of Figofthe mechanism not specifically described here- 1n.

The drum 300 of said machine, comprises a controlling selector adaptedto be differentially oscillated to a desired setting by a corresponding5 differential movement of a member controlled by the keyboard setting.According to the present invention, the means for effecting thisdifferential setting comprises nine individual solenoids 350, thecircuits of which are individually controlled by the separate keys ofthe keyboard. These solenoids are arranged in end to end relation,

and energization of any one of them serves to position the high point35lof a core 352v within the energized coil, thereby effecting adifferential setting of the core 352, according to which of thesolenoids has been selected for energization.- This core is rigidlyconnected at its rear end to'a slide 353, provided with a diagonalcammi-ng slot 354 in which a pin 355 carried by the bell crank selectorarm 356, rides. This selector arm is substantially the same in form asthat shown in the above-mentioned patent and functions to control theselector segment in the same manner. The core 352 and its slide 353 arenormally held in their extreme forward position by a spring 351tensioned between the-slide and a stud on the forward portion of thebase, thus holding the' selector segment in a zero position; but uponenergization ofany of the solenoids 350, the core 352 will bedifferentially positioned,

positioning the selector segment differentially in accordance with theassigned value of the energiz'ed solenoid. 7

Core 352 is, preferably, of a rhombic longitudiu nal section, portionsof said core extending to all points where the magnetic field may be setup, so asto provide a purchase on which the field may act to move theenlarged portion of the core to central position in the field.

Individual circuits are provided for each solenoid whereby it may becontrolled by a key in a keyboard of substantially the form disclosed inthe abovementioned patent.

, Nine keys 360 are mounted in slots in the face plate 36 i, and aresupported at their lower end by slots formed in a strap member 362.Spring 363 compressed between the strap member and lug formed on thekeys, serves to normally maintain the keys in their raised position; butupon depression, they are latched in their depressed position by alocking slide 364 normally held in its foreward position on the bottomof strap member 362 by a..spring 365 compressed between the forward key.

forward portion of the locking slide.

, Wedge-shaped members on each key stem cam the locking slide 364 to therear upon depresion of any key, and upon passage of the wedge-shapedmember the locking slide steps forward, engaging the rear face thereofand preventing rise of the Contacts 366 and 361 are supported upon a barof insulated material 368 mounted upon cross bars 369 in a positionbelow each' bank of keys. These contacts are connected in series. witheach solenoid, and with the sourceof power, so that depres-. sion of akey will effect closure of one pair ofco'n tacts and individuallyenergize the solenoid in series therewith, positioning the core 352 andselector segment, as hereinbefore set forth.

However, this keyboard form of control for the difierential mechanism ispurely optional, since it is obvious that any circuit-closing mechanismwill serve the purpose, and may, if desired, be positioned at a controlpoint remote from the entire machine.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein described, itis understood that it is capable of modification 'within the scope ofthe following claims:

l. Electromagnetic mechanism for difierentially positioning a mechanicalelement, comprising a series of alined solenoids, a common core thereforhaving a rhombic longitudinal section, and'means for selectivelyenergizing said solenoids comprising a switch for controlling each ofsaid solenoids, a depressible key for controlling each of said switches,latching mechanism for retaining said keys in depressed-position, andmeans controlled by the depression of a key for releasinga previously'latched key.

2. Electromagnetic mechanism for differentially positioning a mechanicalelement comprising a and means controlled by the depression of a key lfor releasing a previously latched key.

3. Electromagnetic mechanism for difierentially positioning a mechanicalelement, comprising a series of alined solenoids, a common coretherefor, means for selectively energizing said solenoids comprising aswitch for completing each solenoid circuitindividually, depressiblekeys for controlling each of said switches, latching mechanism forretaining one of said keys in' depressed position,

means controlled by the depression of another of said keys for releasingthe previously latched key, and means for directly resetting themechanisms controlled by said keys to a value corresponding to that ofthe last depressed key.

a. Eectromagnetic mechanism for difierential ly positioning anadjustable element adapted to register a-value in a machine comprising acore operatively-associated with said element and having an enlargedintermediate portion, a series of electrically independent coilssurrounding said core, and means for energizing any .one of said coilsindividually.

- 5.- Electromagnetic mechanism for difierential ly positioning anadjustable element adapted to register a value in-a machine comprising acore operatively associated with said element and having an enlargedintermediate portion, a series of electrically independent coilssurrounding said core, means for energizing any one of said coils"individually, and means automatically operated upon such energizationof a coil for deenergizing any previously energized coil.

Y-CARL M. F. FRmEN.

